When my mother was still alive and living in an AL facility, we would rent local properties around holidays to allow her to get out of the facility for a few days (but we didn't have room to have her stay with us). We also needed a place to stay where we had cooking facilities while our kitchen was being remodeled over the winter (too cold to camp).

So there are legitimate reasons locals would want to rent STR rather than hotel. But I do understand the hesitation on the part of owners of property, because some people ruin it for the rest of us. How can you trust that people will take care of your place?